In a world where even the generally mediocre likes of Snow Patrol can have honest to goodness mainstream pop success, it seems peculiar that Elbow have never broken through beyond a devoted cult following. (Admittedly, the fact that their new labels, Polygram's alt rock imprint Fiction Records in the U.K. and Geffen in the U.S., are their fourth and fifth, respectively, after stints on Island, EMI, and V2, may have a lot to do with their lack of mainstream attention.) Exploring the fruitful middle ground between early Radiohead's mopey art rock and Coldplay's radio-friendly dumbing down of the same, Elbow makes records built on a balance of things not often found together anymore: strange musical textures alongside immediately accessible pop song choruses, or unexpected left turns in song structure paired with frontman Guy Garvey's warm, piercing vocals. It's no surprise that Elbow are regularly compared to old-school prog rockers like Pink Floyd and Electric Light Orchestra: they're proof that records can be cool and commercial at the same time, an idea that's not particularly hip in this day and age. Yet a song like "Grounds for Divorce," which puts a sharp, wryly funny Garvey lyric against a clanging, Tom Waits-like arrangement and throws on one of the album's catchiest tunes for good measure, or "Some Riot," which filters a yearning, lovely melody for guitar and piano through so many layers of effects and processing that it can be hard to tell what the original instruments sounded like, isn't afraid to display its accessibility even on its most experimental numbers. At the album's best, including the spacious, atmospheric balladry of the opening "Starlings" (imagine if Sigur Rós could write a pop song as emotionally direct as Keane's "Everybody's Changing") and the potential radio breakthroughs of the soaring, semi-orchestral epic "One Day Like This" (complete with choral climax!) and the wistful "Weather to Fly," The Seldom Seen Kid is Elbow's most self-assured and enjoyable album so far. [The U.K. version added "We're Away" as a bonus track.]
It was during the preview to the new Batman movie (yes, it's an amazing movie) that I realized that I loved this album. Hearing the album's chic lead single "Grounds for Divorce" on movie theater speakers was a cathartic experience. For an unusual, pensive, and often times arcane sounding band, the song's attitude and cool-factor are really striking. Reminding me of the sonics of my favorite El...
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I posted this list on the BAGeL Radio blog about a month ago, not sure why I failed to post it here, I bet some folks here would get a kick out of it and have similar lists of their own to share. This list would be different if I were to reconsider it in light of releases that have since arrived from Tilly & The Wall, Feral Children, mrandmrsmays, Darker My Love, Elephone, The Gang, Notwist, S...
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I've been thinking about this for a while. These lists are guaranteed to be updated and changed and totally messed around, but as of right now, here's how my concert experiences rank. I'd like to hear how yours rank too!TOP 5 CONCERTS!These are tough, and take a lot of thought, but I'm pretty set in this list so far. It hurts me a little bit that my favorite band did not make this list, despite...
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Don’t you think it is one of the most annoying questions to come under: Name three albums to take with you to a desert island? Yes, an utterly nightmare question for music buffs in particular. A never-ending anxiety state due to the fear of “being have to leave something out” with a broken heart. As much absurd this list making is, as much irresistible in the mean time. Me, that is why ever
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After winning the Mercury Music Prize last year for The Seldom Seen Kid, Elbow where invited by the BBC to play the album in full with the BBC Concert Orchestra and a choir at Abbey Road studios. This concert has been playing on a loop 24/7 on a BBC digital channel, so I may have watched 3 or 4 times over the last week.......
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Alt-indie rockers Elbow were awarded the prestigious Mercury Music Prize, the annual music prize given for the best album from the United Kingdom or Ireland. Elbow, who formed way back in 1990, won for their 2008 release The Seldom Seen Kid. Not only did the album peak at Number 5 on the UK chart and Number 109 in the US, but it was also entirely self-produced, mixed and recorded by Elbow.Elbo...
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Elbow are an English band from Manchester, who have been active from the late 1990s.Acclaimed for their innovative sound and frontman Guy Garvey's candid, evocative lyrics, Elbow has received vast critical acclaim and been endorsed by major artists Blur, R.E.M. and U2. The Velvet Underground's co-founder John Cale selected Elbow's "Switching Off" as one of his eight chosen records on the BBC's ...
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Quite often a good looking or interesting video can make me go back and listen to a track. Or watch the video even if the song leaves a little to be desired. And recently I noticed the opposite - amazing song, utterly boring video.Elbow's fantastic song One Day Like This video was on TV and I'd never seen it before. I didn't imagine some flashy video, perhaps just a performance video complete w...
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It is time to catch breath now! Three year wait is finding an end at last. The wonderful Mancunians are back! It IS happening finally! *The Seldom Seen Kid*: 4th studio album of the fantabulistic *Elbow* is to be released on 17th March.In order to galvanize; a sound clip for one of the new songs *The Bones of You* was put up on the "official site":http://www.elbow.co.uk/ few weeks back which ha...
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is one of the tracks from Elbow. Elbow won the Mercury prize this year. This song "Grounds for Divorce" is featured on the trailer for the Coen Brothers' film Burn after Reading starring Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and John Malkovich. They come from Bury and have been around for a while.
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I'm still in the middle of gathering all the half year lists of 2008! A list of the best albums of 2008 so far according to all Moggers. If you haven't voted yet, go to this thread: http://mog.com/SA/blog_post/169238 and post your top 10 albums of 2008 so far. You still have until next Wednesday! My Nr. 5Band: ElbowAlbum: The Seldom Seen KidBest Track: An Audience With the PopeBest Line: Cause...
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One I thought the Moggers would likeIts so strange how certain days remain in our memoriesenjoy everyone x
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Don’t you think it is one of the most annoying questions to come under: Name three albums to take with you to a desert island? Yes, an utterly nightmare question for music buffs in particular. A never-ending anxiety state due to the fear of “being have to leave something out” with a broken heart. As much absurd this list making is, as much irresistible in the mean time. Me, that is why ever
More >
I posted this list on the BAGeL Radio blog about a month ago, not sure why I failed to post it here, I bet some folks here would get a kick out of it and have similar lists of their own to share. This list would be different if I were to reconsider it in light of releases that have since arrived from Tilly & The Wall, Feral Children, mrandmrsmays, Darker My Love, Elephone, The Gang, Notwist, S...
More >
Elbow - One Day Like This LyricsDrinking in the morning sun Blinking in the morning sun Shaking off the heavy one Heavy like a loaded gunWhat made me behave that way? Using words I never say I can only think it must be love Oh, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful daySomeone tell me how I feel It's silly wrong but vivid right Oh, kiss me like the final meal Yeah, kiss me like we die tonightCau...
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I've been thinking about this for a while. These lists are guaranteed to be updated and changed and totally messed around, but as of right now, here's how my concert experiences rank. I'd like to hear how yours rank too!TOP 5 CONCERTS!These are tough, and take a lot of thought, but I'm pretty set in this list so far. It hurts me a little bit that my favorite band did not make this list, despite...
More >
It was during the preview to the new Batman movie (yes, it's an amazing movie) that I realized that I loved this album. Hearing the album's chic lead single "Grounds for Divorce" on movie theater speakers was a cathartic experience. For an unusual, pensive, and often times arcane sounding band, the song's attitude and cool-factor are really striking. Reminding me of the sonics of my favorite El...
More >
Elbow, currently raking in the cash off the back of that Mercury win, have announced their intention to follow up prize winning LP The Seldom Seen Kid with an album of children's music and an accompanying animated film.
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Starlings |
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| 2 The Bones of You |
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| 3 Mirrorball |
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| 4 Grounds for Divorce |
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| 5 An Audience with the Pope |
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| 6 Weather to Fly |
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| 7 The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver |
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| 8 The Fix |
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| 9 Some Riot |
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| 10 One Day Like This |
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| 11 Friend of Ours |
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Click to purchase…
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "The Seldom Seen Kid")
